news hour, and i welcome the new to the first of the 2012presidentialdebatesbetweenpresidentobama, thedemocratic nominee, and former massachusetts governor, mitt romney, the republican nominee. this debate and the next three, two presidential, one ice- presidential, are sponsored by the commission of presidential debates. tonight's nine minutes will be about he domestic feature and will follow a format designed by the commission. there will be six roughly 15 minute segments with two-minute answers. for the first question, then an open discussion for the remainder of this section. i made the final selections and for the record, they were not submitted for approval to the commissionnare the candidates. this segment, as i announced in advance, will be threeeon the care, the role of government, and governing. with an emphasis throughout on the differences, specifics, and choices. both candidates will have post statements. the audience in hall has promised to remain quiet. so we may all concentrate on what the candidates have to say. there is a noise exception right now, though, as